May 11, 1988 , Vol. XXXII, No. 21 • • The weekly newspaper serving the towns of I Bethlehem and New Scotland NEW SCOTLAND , Dangerous 9 W: whereto turn? Safety of aquifer By Mark Stuart Chatham, is listed in critical condition at Albany Medical Center HospitaL She has been About five ,hundred feet north of the scene of charged with reckless driving and failure to the accident that claimed the lifeof a 41·year·old debated area minister stands a "No V·turn" sign. It's keep right. there for southbound motorists coming out of On Monday, Bethlehem Supervisor J. Robert the Delmar Bypass - motorists like the 20·year· Hendricks contacted state Assemblyman John old woman who was involved in last Tuesday's Faso concerning the V·turn issue as well as By Patricia Mitchell accident that took the life of the Rev. Gerald several other traffic problems along the Debate over the effect of gravel Metcalf of Bethlehem. roadway. Hendricks said he plans to meet with mining - and even of residential Faso and state Department of Transportation Although no official report has recognized it development - on the potential officials, but was unable to give any specific.date as a problem, and police are still investigating groundwater supply at Tall for that meeting. Faso said he and Hendricks the accident; it appears that the town of Timbers continues as town have "decided to press DOT" for answers. Bethlehem is now ready to add the V·turn issue officials weigh a proposal that to its list of potential hazards along the stretch An observer looking fur such U·turn would settle New Scotland's of Rt. 9W between Fuera Bush Road and the violations by southbound motorists noticed Rt. 9W going south provides lawsuit with miners William M. Bypass. several such incidents along the roadway last no access to vehicles going· Larned and Sons. Sunday and Thursday at different times of the . An eyewitness to the accident speculated that to the PIA or Niagara The New Scotland Town Board ·day. One incident involved two Department of Mohawk buildings. Last has received letters from officials the accident may have been caused by an Transportation trucks. One of the trucks made attempted V·turn. However, no official week's accident apparently in the 'county Department of a V·turn, the other made a three·point turn, confirmation on the cause of the accident has involved an attempted V­ Health and the state Department right at the intersection where the "No V·turn" been given by Bethlehem police, who are still turn further south, at the of Health that raise new concern investigating the incident. Ann Anita, 20, of • (Turn to Page 3) Mauro building. Spotlight map over the gravel mine on the west side of Hilton Rd. on the former Tall Timbers Country Club. Wells in the 27·acre mine area have been identified as the Church mourns its builder-pastor possible source for a water district that would supply a 430· unit development proposed by the By Mark Stuart carry out the mission he had area. Metcalf is survived by his Galesi Group, as well as other wife Gala (Morris) Metcalf, and nearby residential areas. The news came hard and begun. three children: Sarah, Justin fast to most of the members of However, New Scotland officials The 41·year·old Metcalf was and Jonathon. But he leaves the Solid Rock Church in also received a S letter after killed while on his way to the behind a much larger family in Wednesday's town board meeting Glenmont last Tuesday morn· church to perform a funeraL ing. Word had come· that the congregation of a church he from Environmental Hydrogeology He was pronounced dead at helped form and nurture into Corp. of Clifton Park, the Pastor Gerald M. Metcalf was Albany Medical Center HospitaL killed in a head·on collision the 300·member Solid Rock hydrogeologists for the Galesi Church. project, that said the mining will while on his way to the church, . Metcalf was born in Win· less than a mile away. Services were held Friday have no impact on present chester, Tennessee, and was a groundwater conditions. As stinging as news like that 1967 graduate of Apostolic for the pastor. It was reported . may seem, church members Bible Institute of St. Paul, that over 700 people attended . Because of the letters, one • say they have been drawn Minn. He served as assistant Crista Besson is a trustee of councilman, John Sgarlata, is together by Rev. Metcalfs pastor at two Illinois churches questioning how the board can death, more determined to before moving to the Albany (Turn to Page 21) Rev. Gerald M. Metcalf consider settling its lawsuit and risk a potenti, vater supply. The letters from the health departments were discussed at Wednesday's New Scotland Town Board meeting. They will be When the library began in 1913 taken into account as town board members decide on a proposal By Allison Bennett become a necessary part of many from Town Attorney Fred Riester households throughout the years. that would settle the town's When the ladies of the Delmar It is published now by a Progress Club determined to litigation against Larned and committee from the First Vnited Sons, which plans to continue begin a lending library, Delmar Methodist Church of Delmar. was merely a hamlet situated on gravel mining 27 acres on the However, it had its beginning in country club land. the old Delaware Turnpike, about 1913 when the first directory was three miles from Albany. At that published by a committee of ladies If the town allows the mine to time lhe little settlement had a from the Delmar Progress Club. continue, Larned and Sons would population of about 900, which The proceeds from were to be pay the town $150,000 that will be shortly thereafter began a very used for the benefit of the Delmar used to create a water district for rapid increase, partly due to the the Orchard Park area. Galesi Delaware and Hudson Railroad Group officials have offered to runnin!: through the center o!'the A special section include Orchard Park in a water • village and linking it so easily to The first Delmar library building, constructed in 1917 on the on the Bethlehem district for their development. Albany. The mass use of· the corner of Adams Street and Hawthorne Avenue on what was Other terms would require that automobile a few years later then open land. The building ~as enlarged in 1954 and this Public Library's the mine would be sent back tothe determined completely the sub· section became the adult reading room. The building 75th anniversary planning board for consideration urban character that the town currently houses the Bethlehem Central School District's of a special use permit that would was to take on. Even though Educational Services Center. celebration begins allow it to continue. The planning Delmar was a small rural village on Pa/!e23 board will be considering the in 1913, there were women of mine under the terms of the vision living here with aesthetic Delmar Progress Club at a school building at Kenwood Ave. Free Library. Review of the first zoning ordinance that existed tastes. These women wanted to meeting held at the home of Mrs. and Adams St., which is now the Ira Boynton. A constitution was Masonic Temple. An entry in the directory reveals that the majority before September 1986 when the provide their local community of ·the 918 persons living in town board rescinded the special with something of value that adopted. One of the purposes of diary of Belle Salisbury of Delmar at that time resided on use of mining in the two zones would be a benefit over a lo~g the association was to maintain a Delmar, written on April 4, 1914. rcading room and a circulating states: "An unusually severe, cold Kenwood or Delaware Aves. where the mine is located. period of time. The library idea Borthwick and Hudson Aves., and was proposed by Mrs. Frank library, free for public use to the winter, most snow since 1888. I The planning board rejected Grove aoo Adams Sts. accounted . the miners' special use permit in Sharpe. inhabitants of School District 13. have read quite a lot this winter, for a few more residents. December, 1986, based on the The library opened for the first books from the Delmar Free On May 14, 1913 the Delmar Library enjoyed very much." Scattered groups lived on Elm and town board's actions. Free Library Association was time on August 16, 1913, in one (Turn to Page 27) (Turn to Page 11) organized by members of the room on the second floor of the The Tri· Village Directory has ., • Sony Watchman Hoow!! Concept I Vatuum Zenith 13 TV • 14 RCA Deluxe VCR RCA Camcorder Fur Coal or Jacket" Certificate of Deposit 100%. 95%. 90%. 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